Science

How important the Atmosphere is????

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, then why Venus is hotter than Mercury?

Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, but it doesn’t have an atmosphere to trap the heat from the Sun. As a result, the temperature rises to 427oC at noon, and drops down to –173oC at night.

Venus
Venus has the thickest atmosphere (97% Carbondioxide) in the solar system, causes a severe greenhouse effect, that is it traps heat from the Sun. The temperature on Venus is 461oC, and it remains same in day and night, because of large amount of heat trapped by the atmosphere. Hence, the atmosphere of Venus makes it the hottest planet in the solar system.

Life on Earth
Conditions on Earth are perfect for life. We need a reasonable size of Carbondioxide for reasonable Green house effect, so that we could get reasonable heat from the Sun. If we increase the size of Carbondioxide in atmosphere, it will result in more Green house effect, and the temperature on Earth will increase. And, the Earth will not remain supportive for life as other planets.

Similarly, If we decrease the size of Carbondioxide in atmosphere, it will result in less Green house effect, and the temperature on Earth will decrease. And, the Earth will not remain supportive for life.

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